The journalists’ investigation shows that Hubert Seipel of the ARD, considered an expert on Russia, is funded by the Kremlin.
A joint investigation into this issue was conducted by journalists from the British “Guardian”, as well as from the German ZDF and “Spiegel”. They found evidence of Russian financing of Hubert Seipel, a pro-Kremlin journalist at ARD (one of the largest public radio and television broadcasters in Europe), considered a leading German expert on Russia.
A night in Putin’s home
Hubert Seipel has become known as one of the top experts on Vladimir Putin’s Russia because he has virtually open access to the Russian president. Seipel published a documentary about Gazprom in 2009. Then his first meeting with Putin took place. He said he spent the night at the politician’s home and played billiards with him in the evening. Seipel said he has met the Russian president about 100 times since then. He accompanied him on a hunting expedition to Siberia and filmed him playing hockey, practicing judo and swimming.
In November 2014, Seipel broadcast a half-hour primetime interview with Putin. In the final weeks before February 24, 2022, Hubert Seipel claimed that NATO would “surround Putin” and expressed confidence that the Russian president would not start a war.
A few months ago, journalists gained access to files known as “Cyprus Confidential”. There is evidence that Seipel has, at least since 2018, received generous funding from Russia to write the book titled “Putin’s Power: Why Europe Needs Russia.” published in 2021
“The author is preparing a book on the political climate in the Russian Federation, which should be published in 2019. The sponsor wants to support the development of the project… and make it more accessible to a wide audience,” the contract quoted. declared by the media. Seipel was promised “logistical and organizational support” in gathering information in Russia.
Big money from Russia
Under this agreement, he would receive PLN 600,000. euros in three installments in 2018-2020, but in the end the money was paid in two installments: PLN 200,000. euros in April 2018 and 400 thousand in April 2019
Another point of the contract indicated that in 2013 a similar sponsorship contract regarding the biography of Vadimir Putin was concluded. Both publications by Hubert Seipel were published by a renowned German publisher.
The money was provided to the author by De Vere Worldwide Corporation, a company registered in the Virgin Islands. It is believed that the real owner of the company is Russian oligarch Alexei Mordashov.
Seipel states that the money he received from Russia had no influence on the way he spoke about Russia in ARD and his books.
Source: Do Rzeczy
Roy Brown is a renowned economist and author at The Nation View. He has a deep understanding of the global economy and its intricacies. He writes about a wide range of economic topics, including monetary policy, fiscal policy, international trade, and labor markets.
